#22 Tuesday 3 December 2024
Good morning everybody and welcome to Tuesday’s Rugby information. The Wallabies are achieved for 2024, and whereas they didn’t come house with a grand slam, they’ve improved because the Rugby Championship, and are significantly better than the workforce on the World Cup in 2023.
The Wallabies 12 months
The Wallabies performed 13 assessments this calendar yr, successful 6 and shedding 7. At face worth that’s a 46% successful document, and whereas it’s a disappointing return in comparison with higher instances it’s definitely higher than final yr, and higher than Dave Rennie achieved in his tenure. I believe all of us agree the Wallabies have turned a nook and at the moment are aggressive with one of the best groups on the planet. There’s lots to love about how the Wallabies performed on the northern tour, and with higher luck towards the Irish (does that ever occur?) we may’ve snatched a win or a attract Dublin.
By my rely there have been 47 gamers who donned the Wallaby gold this yr, together with 19 debutants. That’s fairly one thing, notably when you think about the Australia XV program offering alternatives for different gamers to realize worldwide expertise.
The main focus of at this time’s article is to cowl the gamers’ scores from the Irish check on the weekend and subsequent week I’ll present a abstract of the participant rankings all year long.
Eire v Australia Participant Rankings
The Wallabies headed over to Dublin to play Eire at Lansdowne Street (aka Aviva Stadium) on the weekend and it was a cracking check match, as reported right here by BLL. It definitely was an entertaining recreation with each groups having an opportunity to win it, and, to be trustworthy, each groups would’ve been capable of say they deserved the victory had they received; the Irish for his or her dominant territory and possession, the Wallabies for his or her staunch defence and taking the factors once they had been on provide. Sadly although, the Irish obtained the win, and we’ll want to attend a bit longer for a victory towards them.
The scores under are my ideas primarily based on my viewing of the sport and utilizing the G&GR ranking system.
10 – A legendary efficiency to go down within the historical past books
9 – Excellent efficiency: Man of the match shoo-in
8 – Wonderful all-round recreation
7 – Good recreation with a couple of sparkles
6 – Stable efficiency
5 – Common – ho hum
4 – Beneath par
3 – Had a nasty recreation
2 – Inform your story strolling pal
1 – An entire joke
0 – Didn’t make it on, or no significant involvement.
As typical, in case you agree, let’s hear about it within the feedback.
Wallaby Participant Rankings
- James Slipper – Bought a begin and his 143rd cap instead of Angus Bell. Slips doesn’t provide the working risk that Bell does, however is aware of his position and seems everywhere in the subject once you search for him. a stable efficiency. Rating 6
- Brandon Paenga-Amosa – One other begin for BPA and lineout was higher than final outing towards Scotland. In actual fact we received 9 from 9 on our personal throw this week. Rating 6
- Taniela Tupou – In all probability his greatest efficiency of 2024 for the Wallabies. The scrum was stable, his defence was stable and the intercept and 50 metre run downfield was nice. Possibly wanted to discover a higher choice than the over the shoulder move. Rating 6
- Nick Frost – One other superb efficiency from Frost as he reformed his partnership with Williams. Made his tackles, was a great lineout choice, challenged the Irish throws, and even discovered himself working in open play supporting Harry Wilson. Rating 7
- Jeremy Williams – Is forming a great partnership with Nick Frost, and does all of the grunt work that’s wanted. Genuinely one of many higher Wallabies performers this yr, however extra on that later. Rating 6
- Bob Valetini – The large man had one other nice recreation earlier than being changed by Gleeson. Immense in assault and defence, and his work across the subject in cowl defence is wonderful. Rating 8
- Fraser McReight – A superb al round recreation from Fraser, with the one blemish being a knock on within the first half. His capability to be within the good place to make the turnover is nearly as good as anybody within the recreation. His hyperlink play, and interaction with Harry Wilson specifically is nice for the Wallabies. Rating 8.
- Harry Wilson – Has actually cemented his place in the back of the scrum this yr for the Wallabies, and brings ability, tempo, and video games consciousness to a superb again row. Rating 8.
- Jake Gordon – Together with Noah, may’ve kicked higher from hand to alleviate strain and discover a lot wanted territory. Was in all the things in his time on the sphere, and needed to cope with loads of strain on the base of the ruck. Rating 6.
- Noah Lolesio – 5 from 5 from the kicking tee, however kicking from hand may’ve been higher, whether or not it was clearing kicks or kicks for contact or contestable kicks. Was good in defence, and his choice taking across the subject was usually good. Rating 6.
- Max Jorgensen – We’re beginning to see why this man has such large wraps on him, has real tempo, makes good selections, and is sweet defensively. Rating 6
- Len Ikitau – Taking part in at 12 once more this week with JAS within the 13 jersey. Continues to be one of many Wallabies higher gamers each week. Australia may have made extra use of his left foot to kick their approach out of bother. Rating 6
- Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii – He tried arduous to become involved, however was nicely contained by the Irish defence. A few doubtful tackles that could possibly be shoulder fees on different days. Total, taking part in towards the quantity 2 ranked aspect within the aspect, appeared extra at house than towards Scotland. A few errors diminished his rating. Rating 5
- Andrew Kellaway – A significantly better recreation from Kellaway this week, made loads of tackles on the surface together with a attempt saver early on. Rating 6
- Tom Wright – A little bit of a blended bag from Tom Wright, with some wonderful moments blended in with a few dealing with errors, however couldn’t discover a option to break the sport open. Rating 6
- Billy Pollard – Maintained an ideal lineout document for the Wallabies, and was stable in tackles and the scrum. Rating 5.
- Isaac Kailea – Superb affect off the bench, carried the ball nicely in shut quarters and the scrum was stable when he got here on. Rating 6
- Allan Alaalatoa – At 30 years outdated, 7As has loads of time so as to add to his 79 caps. Was superb within the scrum, some dominant tackles and a stable efficiency. Rating 6
- Lukhan Salakaia-Loto – Stable once more off the bench and held his personal within the bodily contest. Rating 6
- Langi Gleeson – Laborious to provide him a ranking, no actual highlights, and no apparent errors. Rating 5.
- Tate McDermott – Couldn’t add the identical stage of affect that we’ve come to count on from the livewire. His work in cowl to subject a grubber after which mistaken foot James Lowe was glorious and purchased his aspect time to clear. Was stable. Rating 6
- Tane Edmed – Bought on the sphere late for his debut and to turn into the 990th Wallaby. It was quick lived although and sadly needed to depart the sphere with a head knock. No ranking.
- Harry Potter – Made it on with a few minutes to play, however didn’t get a contact because the Wallabies chased the ultimate rating. No ranking.
The Aussies pushed the Irish all the way in which on this recreation, and with slightly extra luck may’ve obtained throughout the road. As a part of an excellent again row, I’d give the Participant of the Match to Fraser McReight. Nice quantity 7s are a trademark of Australian rugby, and Fraser is not any totally different; he would possibly simply be probably the most full participant we’ve had since George Smith, and he’s solely 25 assessments into his profession as nicely.
It’s a tough place to win for visiting groups, so a 3 level loss on the finish of a protracted tour offers lots to construct on for subsequent yr.
Price a hear
Don’t overlook the speaking workforce podcast, which you will discover under.
And naturally there’s the superb dropped kick off podcast as nicely right here.
Thanks once more for studying this, and I stay up for the feedback part. See you subsequent week for a Wallabies workforce of the yr wrap up.
Cheers, RAWF
